Artwork
Andrew W. Mellon
Andrew W. Mellon is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work, titled “Andrew W.
About this work
Overview
The work, titled “Andrew W. Mellon,” is a drawing executed with pen, brown ink, and red crayon on brown wove paper. Rendered in profile, the figure faces left, his hair drawn back and a high‑necked shirt falling in loose folds. The composition is compact, focusing on the sitter’s facial expression and attire.
Technique & Style
The artist employed rapid, overlapping strokes to suggest volume, especially in the hair and collar. Rough, scratchy lines create a sense of immediacy, while subtle cross‑hatching builds shadow and texture. The use of red crayon adds a muted accent against the brown ink, a method typical of 19th‑century study sketches.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents a solemn, contemplative individual, likely intended as a quick study rather than a finished likeness. The profile pose and restrained palette emphasize the sitter’s dignified bearing, inviting viewers to consider his character through the artist’s brisk, observational hand.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
